LOS ANGELES: The jury in the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray began deliberating Friday to decide whether he is guilty of the star's 2009 death.
The seven men and five women have to reach a verdict on a sole charge of involuntary manslaughter against the 58-year-old Murray, accused of giving Jackson an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol to help him sleep.
The jury began considering its verdict after a day of drama Thursday, when prosecution and defense lawyers presented their closing arguments at the trial, which began on September 27.
In a powerful summary, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the 58-year-old medic caused the star's death through negligence and greed, depriving his children of their father and the world of a "genius."
Defense attorney Ed Chernoff then took the floor to claim that Murray was "a little fish in a big dirty pond," alleging that key witnesses conspired to agree on a story after Jackson died at his LA mansion on June 25, 2009.
Outside the court, fans carrying placards including "Straight to jail and throw away the key" and "One way ticket to jail" gathered from early morning to await the verdict, which could in theory come as early as Friday.
"I think it will happen .. because the jury has heard enough, we have all heard enough, I think were all ready to get it done with," said Tami Capps, from Oklahoma.
"I think this jury .. knows enough that they will come to a verdict today," Capps, one of a handful of Jackson fans who won a seat in court in a daily lottery if the verdict is given, told the HLN television channel.
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